Matt Canada is entering his first season as the Steelers' quarterbacks coach. He was hired on January 15, 2020.
Canada, who was a finalist for the Broyles Award -- honor given to college football's top assistant coach -- in 2016, brings nearly two decades of experience as both a highly successful quarterbacks' coach and offensive coordinator.
Canada's units set offensive school records at Indiana, Northern Illinois, Wisconsin and Pittsburgh, and most recently, as the interim head coach at the University of Maryland in 2018.
Canada served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks' coach at LSU in 2017. Tigers' quarterback Danny Etling threw 16 TDs and only 2 interceptions, while LSU finished the season No. 1 nationally in fewest turnovers. The Tigers won six of seven SEC games down the stretch, earned a trip to the Citrus Bowl.
Among the quarterbacks developed by Canada are former NC State quarterback, New England Patriots third-round NFL Draft pick and current Indianapolis Colts signal caller Jacoby Brissett, who threw for 43 TDs and just 11 interceptions over a two-year period under Canada. Canada also mentored first-team All-MAC quarterback Chandler Harnish (Northern Illinois), two-time honorable mention All-Big Ten quarterback Ben Chappell (Indiana), second- team All-Big Ten quarterback Kellen Lewis (Indiana) and fifth-round NFL Draft pick Nathan Peterman (Pitt), who threw for 27 TDs and 7 interceptions in a season when the Panthers broke a number of school records on offense.
In Canada's one season with the Panthers (2016), Pitt averaged a school- record 42 points per game, which ranked No. 10 in the nation. The Panthers led the nation in red-zone TD percentage (82%) and scored at least 28 points in all 12 regular-season games, including a 43-42 victory at eventual national champion Clemson. Pitt allowed just 9 sacks in the regular season, which was the fewest of any Power 5 program. Running back James Conner rushed for over 1,000 yards, scored 16 TDs, and earned first-team All-ACC honors. The Panthers finished the regular season 8-4 and earned a trip to the Pinstripe Bowl.
At NC State (2013-15), under Canada, the Wolfpack finished third in the ACC in scoring offense in 2015 and scored the most points (41) in the regular season against College Football Playoff finalist Clemson.
Canada served a critical role in leading Wisconsin to a Big Ten Champion- ship and Rose Bowl berth in 2012. The Badgers routed Nebraska, 70-31, in the conference title game. Wisconsin finished No. 12 nationally in rushing offense and Montee Ball won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back. Ball also earned first-team AP All-American honors.
Prior to joining the Wisconsin staff, Canada led offenses at both Northern Illinois (2003, 2011) and Indiana (2007-10). In 2011, the Huskies won the MAC championship and finished in the top 12 nationally in scoring offense, total offense and rushing offense. Canada guided an Indiana offense that scored a school-record 412 points in 2007.
In his first stint as the Northern Illinois offensive coordinator in 2003, the Huskies climbed as high as No. 12 in the AP poll. Canada was instrumental in the development of All-American running back Michael Turner.
Canada broke into coaching as a student-assistant at Indiana. He later served as a graduate assistant at Indiana from 1994-1995 and coached at Butler University from 1996-1997.
Canada earned his B.A. in Business (1993) and M.A. in Sports Administration (1995) at Indiana University. Canada is from New Palestine, Indiana. He is married to the former Erin Buchanan and the couple has one daughter, Tori, and a son, Chris.
